How do I remove CV Joint from Drive Shaft?

[slalom44]

While doing a brake job on my son's '97 VW Jetta, I found the front left outer CV boot torn. I picked up a replacement boot but I'm having trouble removing the CV joint from the axle to put the new boot on.

My Haynes manual says to tap on the CV joint with a soft-headed hammer, and it will come off. Well, I'be been pounding for the past half hour and it's not budging. I'm also not sure where I should be hitting.

Does anyone have any experience with these?

 

[Quest]

check to see if the inner CV joint comes bolted down by some hex bolts along the flange. If it does, you need to undo them in order to release the shaft.

 

[slalom44]

quote:

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Originally posted by Quest:
check to see if the inner CV joint comes bolted down by some hex bolts along the flange. If it does, you need to undo them in order to release the shaft.

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I'm confused. How does the inner CV joint affect how the outer CV joint is attached to the shaft? I have left the inner CV joint intact, and I removed the spindle from the hub. I just can't take the CV joint off the shaft to install the new boot.

Will I have to completely remove the axle from the car (unbolt the inner CV joint from the transmission) to get the outer CV joint removed from the axle?

 

[Ken4]

Remove the whole driveshaft. Bring it to a driveshaft shop to get it fixed. Removing the CV Joint is not a simple DIY job. While you're at it, might as well bring the other side driveshaft in for repair as well, the boot will be about to tear anytime soon. You might consider replacing the inner boots as well.

 

[Chris142]

Usually theres a clip that sits in a groove. You gotta pound pretty hard to get it out of the groove. Once it's out it's easy.

Others have the clip positioned so that you can get some snap ring pliers on it to remove it.

Easier out of the car and mounted in a vice.

 

[rpn453]

So the inner CV joint/axle won't pull out of the transaxle housing?

I had this problem when my buddy and I were doing the boots on his '89 Corolla. The Haynes said they should just come out, but it wouldn't move, so we left it in. We cleaned it and installed the inner boots from under the car. It wasn't too difficult.

 

[slalom44]

quote:

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Originally posted by Chris142:
Usually theres a clip that sits in a groove. You gotta pound pretty hard to get it out of the groove. Once it's out it's easy.

Others have the clip positioned so that you can get some snap ring pliers on it to remove it.

Easier out of the car and mounted in a vice.

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Thanks. My car doesn't have a snap ring clip. It's supposed to come off by just pounding it. I found a picture on a website that is pretty similar to what I have, with the place I'm supposed to hit:

After more pounding, I finally broke down and removed the entire axle from the vehicle. I'll try tomorrow to pound it out.

 

[srivett]

I just had one off a couple days ago. Knowing VW my '92 has the same CV joints as your car. First remove the clamps and old boot from the outer CV (this is the one you are after right?). Then take a good sized rubber hammer and start whacking. It's probably better for the joint to whack it where the array is pointed but I just pounded on the bigger outer race. It took about 5 good hits with me holding the axle to keep it from tugging on the inner joint. At the end of the splines is a wire loop that keeps the end of the axle in. You probably have one in your boot kit to look at...it's pretty wimpy really.

Steve

 

[mechtech]

It's best to have the CV straight on the axle, when pounding it off. Often, it is easier to do when the whole assembly is out of the car. A large brass punch and a 3 lb hand sledge will get them off for me in one shot.

 

[slalom44]

Thanks, srivett & mechtech. I stuck the axle in a vice, pounded it with a brass mallet real hard, and off it came. That retainer clip really holds that assembly together!

Thanks for everyone's help.